King’s Birthday Unites Visitacion Valley Families

Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and the Visitacion Valley Boys and Girls Club will host a community brunch on Saturday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to bring together local families representing the diversity of Visitacion Valley to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Asian and Pacific American, African American, and Latino parents and children are invited get to know one another, dialogue about their concerns affecting the community, and see possibilities for building multiracial collaborations. Two programs will take place: one for the parents featuring keynote speaker Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, a video discussion of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and training on voter rights; and another one for the children featuring a book reading and art assignment. Parents and children will come together at the end for an exercise that highlights the value and strength in working together as one community.

Sponsored by CAA and the Visitacion Valley Boys and Girls Club, the brunch will feature: keynote speaker Sophie Maxwell, a San Francisco Supervisor whose district includes Visitacion Valley; Vincent Pan, CAA Executive Director; and Shalom Kimble, Program Manager for the Boys and Girls Club will moderate.

Asian and Pacific American, African American, and Latino families are invited to attend.

“Many of the civil rights we possess today would not have been possible if not for the courage and persistence of Dr. King,” stated CAA executive director Vincent Pan. “His struggles and sacrifice created a lasting positive impact for all of us. For recent immigrants and younger people, it may be common to associate Dr. King with the holiday, and not the civil rights movement. We want to link a better understanding of civil rights with Dr. King’s legacy, and strengthen current struggles against racism and violence.